BUSINESS and civic leaders have forecasted a buoyant future for Malton and Norton.

Their comments follow the creation of a partnership between the Chamber of Trade and Town Centre Management (TCM)

Councillor Jason Fitzgerald-Smith, chairman of TCM, said the aim was to inject new blood into the towns' economies by using the combined expertise of both organisations.

He told business leaders and councillors at the Palace Cinema: "We believe this new partnership will advance our towns' vitality".

He said that 150 businesses had already committed their support to the partnership.

It was hoped that more of the remaining 250 would join in the next few weeks.

Roddy Bushell, manager of the Fitzwilliam Estate, the major property owner in Malton, said the two organisations would retain their corporate identities.

He said they would work together to create an organisation that was setting up action teams to tackle particular local issues, including community and crime, a Malton and Norton in Bloom organisation and providing Christmas illuminations.

Paul Beanland, a member of TCM and a surveyor and estate agent in the area, said: "By joining together, we shall have a voice which cannot be ignored."

He said the partnership would be able to influence efforts to create a regional strategy for Yorkshire and tell the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly what the area was seeking to achieve.

Mr Beanland said: "Unless we speak for ourselves as a strong body, we are not going to change the future of our towns."